BC Liberals leader Christy Clark: I’m proud of the record we have

Ahead of the BC election, the Daily Hive editorial team has interviewed all three party leaders, to find out who they are, discuss the issues you care about most, and put your questions to them.

Our third interview was with Christy Clark, BC Liberals leader, who spent half an hour with us, discussing everything from affordable housing to her omnipresent gold BC necklace.

So who is Christy Clark?

Well, the incumbent BC Premier. But also…

Clark was born in Burnaby. Her father was a teacher, who ran unsuccessfully for office. Her mother, originally from Scotland, was a therapist.

The youngest of four children, Clark studied religion and politics at SFU, the Sorbonne, and the University of Edinburgh, but did not graduate.

Following her father’s political ambitions, in 1996, Clark won the seat of Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain for the BC Liberals.

Five years later, she became Education Minister and Deputy Premier in Gordon Campbell’s administration, but in 2005, she resigned to spend time with her son.

Clark became a radio host–but in 2011, she returned to provincial politics, winning the BC Liberal leadership, and taking over as BC Premier, as MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey.

Two years later, she led the BC Liberals to election victory, but lost her own seat. She was later elected MLA for Westside-Kelowna, when the incumbent stepped down in her favour.

Now 51, she’s served as BC Premier for six years–giving most people plenty of time to make up their mind about her ahead of the upcoming election.

“I think people are interested in the character of the people that lead them,” said Clark. “For me, it’s not always popular to do the right thing, but what’s doing the right thing is working.”

Much of the BC Liberals’ platform touts their record on jobs and the economy, and promises business as usual.

“I feel optimistic because the government’s record is really strong on job creation, economic growth, lowest middle class taxes,” said Clark. “I’m proud of the record we have, it’s not perfect but I’m proud of it.”

Housing and affordability?

Missing from Clark’s list are perhaps the biggest issues in this year’s election–housing and affordability.

Clark points to the foreign buyers’ tax, the higher property tax for luxury homes, and the loans for first-time homebuyers, all launched by the BC Liberals in the last two years.

The party is also building 6,000 affordable homes, but here Clark calls out the cities for the low housing supply, saying they have failed to rezone or provide the permits.

“Everything we have been doing is on the demand side,” said Clark. “As long as the supply side is choked off, prices are going to go up.

“I know cities benefit handsomely from development charges and things that they get, but we do need a more balanced housing market.”